Machine for constructing and erecting building structures formed of bricks and the like



March 31, 1970 R. A. NICHOLS 3,503,174

MACHINE FOR CONSTRUCTING AND ERECTING BUILDING STRUCTURES FORMED 0F BRICKS AND THE LIKE Filed June 19, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Pay A. N/CfiO/J INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY- March 31, 1970 R. A. NICHOLS 3,5

MACHINE FOR CONSTRUCTING AND ERECTING BUILDING STRUCTURES FORMED OF BRICKS AND THE LIKE Filed June 19, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Roy A. Mafia/J INVENTOR 'ZmAetW ATIORNE Y March 31, 1970 R. A. NICHOLS 3,503,174

MACHINE FOR CONSTRUCTING AND ERECTING BUILDING STRUCTURES FORMED 0F BRICKS AND THE LIKE Filed June 19, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Roy A. /V/fi0/J INVENTOR BY Z ATTORNE Y March 31, 1970 R. A. NICHOLS" 3,

MACHINE FOR CONSTRUCTING AND ERECTING BUILDING STRUCTURES FORMED 0F BRICKS AND THE LIKE Filed June 19, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Roy A. fl mfio/J INVENTOR MfW ATTORNE Y United States Patent 01 hoe 3,503,174 Patented Mar. 31, 1970 3,503,174 MACHINE FOR CONSTRUCTING AND ERECTING BUILDING STRUCTURES FORMED F BRICKS AND THE LIKE Roy A. Nichols, 5119 Saxon Drive, Houston, Tex. 77018 Filed June 19, 1967, Ser. No. 646,831 Int. Cl. E0441 15/00; 1304f 21/18; E04g 21/22 US. Cl. 52-749 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A device for holding bricks, or the like, in spaced apart assembled relation for the introduction of mortar therebetween to form a wall section, and by which a plurality of such sections may be erected to form a building structure.

This invention relates to the construction of the walls of buildings or similar structures formed of bricks, or the like, and more particularly to a device for positioning and holding bricks or other block-like building elements in an assembly in uniformly spaced relation, for the introduction of mortar between the elements by which the assembly is formed into a wall section. The invention includes means for erecting a number of such sections to form a building structure.

In the laying of bricks, concrete blocks, ceramic tile, and the like, in the construction of buildings it is customary to assemble such elements by placing the same individually in courses in which the elements are more or less uniformly spaced apart with mortar between the elements to secure the same together. The laying of bricks, or the like, in this manner is a time consuming and tedious operation calling for the exercise of a high degree of skill and experience in properly positioning the elements and applying the mortar at the right location and in the amount required.

The present invention has for an important object the provision of mechanism for assembling a plurality of block-like building elements in uniformly spaced relation for the introduction of mortar between the same to form a wall or other similar building structure.

Another object of the invention is to provide block assembling mechanism for the fabrication of building units embodying means for erecting such units to form a building structure.

A further object of the invention is the provision in block assembling mechanism of the kind referred to of means for releasably clamping and holding block-like building elements in an assembly with the elements arranged in uniformly spaced relation for the introduction of mortar between the elements to form a building structure.

Another object of the invention is to provide in block assembling mechanism of the type mentioned of seal forming means adapted to be positioned in the spaces between the assembled elements to close the spaces at locations to permit the introduction of mortar between the elements and retain the mortar in the spaces to complete the building unit.

A still further object of the invention is to provide block assembling mechanism for the construction of walls or other building structure, which is of strong and rugged construction and by the use of which such elements may be formed into sectional units and erected and connected together to form a building structure.

Briefly described, the invention comprises a supporting frame having a plurality of clamping means for releasably holding block-like elements, such as bricks, in uniformly spaced apart assembled relation and including seal forming means for closing the spaces between the elements to retain mortar introduced between the elements to form a building structure. The invention also includes mechanism for actuating the clamping means to clamp and release the elements, for erecting the assembled elements to form a building structure.

The objects and advantages of the invention may best be understood from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the same, constituting a specification of the invention, when considered in conjunction with the annexed drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view illustrating the device of the invention and showing the same in use in the erection of a wall;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary, side elevational view, partly in cross-section and on an enlarged scale, of a portion of the lower end of the device, showing details of structure of means for positioning and holding the lower end of the device in the erection of a wall section therewith;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view partly in cross-section and on a somewhat enlarged scale, of an upper end portion of the device showing details of structure of spacer and holding means for positioning and holding the upper end of the device in the erection of a wall section;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken along the line 44 of FIGURE 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective assembly view, on a greatly enlarged scale, showing details of construction of parts of the element clamping and holding mechanism of the invention;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective assembly view on a greatly enlarged scale, showing structural details and parts of the seal forming means for closing the spaces between the elements at the ends of the elements against the outflow of mortar in the cementing of a wall section;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary side elevational view, on a somewhat enlarged scale of an upper end portion of the device, showing details of structure and arrangement of the seal forming means for closing the spaces between the elements at the front of a wall section against outflow of mortar during the cementing of a wall section, the seal forming means being shown in position between the elements prior to scaling the same;

FIGURE 9 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 8, showing the seal forming means in its sealing position;

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary, perspective assembly view, on a greatly enlarged scale of a portion of the seal forming mechanism showing the means by which the sealing elements are detachably connected to the mechanism; and

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary perspective view, on an enlarged scale, showing portions of the means by which the seal forming elements of the mechanism are secured in place.

Referring now to the drawings in greater detail the invention, as presently illustrated herein, comprises a generally rectangular frame, generally designated 10, which may conveniently be formed of longitudinally extending, spaced apart, parallel members 12, of angular shape in cross-section, such as the channel members shown, suitably connected together.

Within each of the channels 12 a longitudinally movable rod 16 is slidably mounted in guides, such as that shown at 17 in FIGURE 5. Each of the rods is connected at its upper end to a link chain 18, or similar flexible connecting element, as best seen in FIGURE 5, which is connected to a rotatable shaft or tube 20, rotatably mounted on upwardly extending top end lugs 22 on each end of a header 23 on the end of the frame. By this arrangement it will be apparent that when the tubular shaft 20 is rotated in a direction to wind up the chains 18 the rods 16 will all be moved longitudinally in one direction, and upon rotation of the shaft 20 in the other direction the rods 16 will be allowed to move longitudinally in the other direction. The shaft 20 may have one or more stop lugs, such as that shown at 24 in FIGURE 5, with which a latch or detent member 26, hingedly mounted on the frame, is positioned for engagement at its free end, to releasably hold the shaft 20 against reverse rotation when the shaft has been turned in the winding-up direction of the chains 18. The shaft 20 may be rotated by any suitable means such as by providing diametrically opposite openings therein through which a lever or rod 21 may be inserted, as shown in FIGURE 5.

At the left side of the frame 10, as shown in FIGURE 1, a short auxiliary shaft 20 is rotatably mounted on a pair of lugs 22 similar to the lugs 22, the shaft 20' being aligned with the shaft 20 and being connected to the rod 16', which is similar to the rods 16, for actuation in a similar manner by rotation of the shaft 20.

Within each of the channels 12, a number of spring plates or washers 28 are positioned on each rod 16 and 16' at uniformly spaced intervals thereon, each of which plates is movable with the rod in one direction by a crosspin 30, or the like carried by the rod, as clearly shown in FIGURE 5. Coil springs 32 surround the rods 16 each of which springs bears at one end against one of the spring caps or plates 28 and at the other end against a spring cap or plate 34 through which the rod 16 is freely slidable.

At suitably spaced intervals along the lengths of the channel members 12, stationary, plate-like, clamp elements 38 are secured to the bottoms of the channels, ex tending exteriorily therefrom, and spaced in the same direction and at the same distance from each of the e ements 38, the channel is provided with generally U-shaped bottom slots or openings 40, through each of which a rockingly movable clamp element 42 is extended, as best shown in FIGURES and 6. Each movable clamp element 42 has a plate-like portion 4-4 which is disposed exteriorily of the bottom of the channel 12 across the bottom thereof in parallel alignment with clamp element 38, and an inward extension 46 which projects inwardly of the channel and is provided with an elongated opening 48 through which one of the rods 16 is slidably extended. Each clamp element 42 also has spaced apart lugs 50 whose free ends are curved and which are extended through the arms of the U-slot 40 for engagement with one of the spring caps 34.

The above described clamping mechanism is for the purpose of holding bricks, or other block-like structural elements on the frame in properly spaced relation for the introduction of mortar into spaces therebetween to form a unitary wall section or other building unit. The frame is used by placing it in a generally horizontal position with the clamp elements 42 in released positions and the springs 32 extended. This may be accomplished by rotating the shaft 20 to allow the spring caps 28 to move away from the caps 34, to allow the clamp elements 42 to rock away from the clamp elements 38. With the clamp mechanism thus released, bricks B, are then inserted between the clamp elements to rest on the external faces of the bottoms of the channels 12 as seen in FIGURE 5, whereupon the clamps are actuated by rotation of the shaft 20 to compress springs 32 and rock the elements 42 to clamp the elements into engagement with the bricks.

For the purpose of closing the spaces between the bricks at locations to prevent the outflow of the mortar when introduced therebetween, side seal forming elements 60, shown in detail in FIGURES 8, 9 and 10, are provided to close the spaces along the longitudinal sides of the bricks, and end seal forming elements 62, shown in detail in FIGURE 7, are provided to close the spaces at the ends of the bricks.

The side seals 60 may take the form of lengths of rubber tubing extending across the width of the frame 10, and within each seal there is a fiat rod 64 which is wider than the diameter of the tubing. The rods 64 are suitably mounted on curved arms 66 having generally T-shaped lugs 68 on their outer ends which are shaped to be ex tended through key-hole like slots 70 in the rods 64 in the manner illustrated in FiGURE 10, to releasably connect the rods to the arms. By this construction, the rods 64 may be detached from the arms 66 to allow the seal forming elements 60 to be removed and replaced when necessary.

The arms 66 are pivotally connected, loosely at their other ends to cranks 72, rotatably attached to the flanges of the channels 12, as by means of loops 74 on the arms.

The cranks 72 are actuated by longitudinally extending rods 76 in the channels, which are connected at one end to slotted lugs 78 carried on a shaft 80, rotatably mounted on one end of the frame. By this mechanism the seal forming elements are positioned to be located in the spaces between the bricks B when the bricks are positioned on the frame, as seen in FIGURE 8, and upon actuation of the cranks 72 in one direction, the flat rods 64 will be rotated to actuate the seal forming elements 60 into sealing contact with the bricks as seen in FIGURE 6 to close the spaces across the frame against the outflow of mortar therefrom. When the mortar has set, the cranks 72 are rotated in the other direction to rotate the rods 64 to release the seal forming elements 60, as shown in FIG- URE 5. The seal forming elements are secured to the exterior faces of the bottoms of the channels 12 so that the flat rods 64 may be turned in the elements while the elements remain stationary.

The end seal forming elements may be of rod-like shape, formed of suitable seal forming material, such as rubber, these elements 62 along one side of the frame being prefcrably of a length to extend across the end of one brick and across the spaces on each side thereof into sealing engagement with the adjacent bricks to close the spaces between the ends of bricks on one frame and adjacent bricks which have already been assembled in a wall or other building structure.

Similar end seal forming elements 62' are provided on the frame, whose length is the same as the width of one brick, to close the end spaces between the bricks.

The seal forming elements 62 extend longitudinally of the frame 10 and are mounted on angle brackets 82, each having a perforated arm 84 formed with downturned side marginal portions 86 positioned to fit along the side edges of lugs 88 on elongated support members 90, shown in FIGURE 7, extending longitudinally along and secured to the flanges of the channels 12 in the spaces between the channels. The support members 90 also have lugs 92 whose free ends are extended partly across the spaces between the channels 12 and to which the seal forming elements or tubes 60 are cemented, where-by the tubes are held stationary against rotational movement at locations belgween the channels when the rods 64 are rotated in the tu es.

Support members 90' similar to the members 90 are also positioned on flanges of the channels 12, which are formed with lugs 92' positioned in alignment with the lugs 92, but without the lugs 88, as best seen in FIG- URE 11.

The frames of the invention will usually be used by placing the same in a substantially horizontal position with the clamp elements 42 in releasing position. The bricks are then placed in position thereon with spaces between the bricks as indicated at S within which the seal forming elements 60 and 62 extend. When the frame has been thus filled with bricks the clamp rods 16 are actu ated by rotation of shaft 20 to securely clamp the bricks in place and the seal forming elements 60 are actuated by rods 76 by rotating shaft 80 to close the spaces against the outflow of mortar.

In order to construct an upright wall, or other building structure, making use of a number of building units constructed with the frames as described above, means is provided for positioning the frames vertically, one on top of another with the bricks still clamped thereon, whereby the building units may be assembled in vertical alignment to form the Wall.

For this purpose auxiliary supporting frames provided at their upper ends with a tubular cross member or track 100, best seen in FIGURE 1, attached to the end of the frame by longitudinally projecting lugs 102, while the frames 10 are provided with spaced apart rollers 104 at their lower ends by which an upper frame may be supported on a lower one for movement along the track 100 to locate the upper frame in proper position with the laterally extending ends of alternate ones of the bricks extending between bricks of a previously assembled portion of the wall preparatory to filling in the spaces with mortar. The rollers 104 may be of a circumferentially groove type shaped to fit the curvature of the track 100 and are preferably rotatably mounted in roller housings 106 or the like.

The roller housings 106 are preferably positioned between adjacent ones of the channels 12 and secured thereto for bodily tilting movement, as by means of a pivot pin 120. Each of the housings 106 has an opening 122v which is positioned to be in registration with an opening 124 in the flange of one of the channels and through which openings a pin may be extended to hold the housing in its upright or untilted position. By removing the pins the housings 106 may be tilted, as shown in FIGURE 4, to facilitate the removal of the frame from the track 100 without danger of dislodging the bricks when the frame is to be taken off of a section of bricks which have been laid and cemented.

The frames 10' are similar to frames 10, having the same clamp elements 38 and 42 which are operated by the same mechanism, but the frames 10' are not provided with the side and end sealing elements for closing the spaces between the bricks.

In order to support the lowermost frame in an upright position where the wall is to be erected relative to a previously positioned footing or slab F, as shown in FIGURE 2, a trackway 100' may be provided, which may be of semi-circular shape in cross-section, mounted on spaced apart bars 108, or some similar device, each of the bars having an end notch 110 for engagement with an edge of the footing F to position the trackway 100" parallel thereto and each bar 108 having a pivotally adjustable extension or brace 112 pivotally attached to its free end, as by means of a thumb screw 114, as seen in FIGURE 2, whereby the extension 112 may be adjusted to hold the track 100' substantially parallel to the footing. By this arrangement the lowermost frame may be positioned in a predetermined position relative to the footing or other structure to which it is to be related. Suitable seal forming means, such as a rubber tube 60 may be positioned on the footing F adjacent to the track 100, beneath the lowermost course of the bricks B, to close the space between the lowermost bricks and the footing against the outflow of mortar introduced therein.

The track 100' may be connected, as by means of a tie-wire 103, to the footing F, to hold the lower end of the frame against movement away from the footing.

Spacer means may also be provided for holding the upper ends of the frames in predetermined spaced relation to a wall or other upright structure, such as an inner wall W of a house, as shown in FIGURE 3, wherein the frame may have an elongated member 116 of channel shape in cross-section connected at one end thereto adjacent each top corner of the frame and into whose outer end an elongated member 118 is telescopingly extended. The member 116 may have a longitudinal slot through which a screw 120 is extended for threadable engagement with the member 118 to hold the members at any desired position of extension.

By this means the members 116 and 118 may be extended and positioned for engagement of the outer end of the member 118 with the wall W to hold the upper end of the frame in a predetermined spaced position rela tive to the wall. A tie-wire may also be connected to the wall W, and to the screw 120 to hold the frame against tilting movement away from the wall.

In making use of the invention the frames 10 are positioned horizontal and the bricks placed thereon and clamped in place. The loaded frames are then positioned on the track in side-by-side upright positions and moved together to extend the projecting end portions of alternate brick of one section laterally of the frames between the alternate end portions of brick of the adjacent section. With the frames thus assembled the rods 76 may be actuated to sealingly engage the seals 60 with the bricks to close the spaces S.

It is to be noted that is assembling the bricks on a frame 10 alternate ones of the end bricks along the right side of the frame will be extending beyond the left side of the frame and will be clamped by the clamps of only one of the channels 12, as seen is FIGURE 1, while the end ones of the bricks on the left side of the frame in the same rows as the projecting brick on the right side of the frame are located laterally inwardly from the left side of the frame to provide spaces into which the projecting bricks on the right side of the adjacent frame may be extended when the frames are positioned together. Thus, when two loaded frames 10 are placed upright and moved together projecting bricks on one frame will fit into spaces between the bricks of the adjacent frame, the projecting ends being then positioned to be clamped in the adjacent frame by operation of the short shaft 20' whereby bricks of both frames will be held in properly spaced assembled relation.

With the frames thus assembled, mortar may be introduced by any suitable means, such as hoses or flexible tubes, into the spaces between the bricks to cement the same together.

When the mortar has set in a portion of a wall thus formed, the frames 10 may be removed by releasing sealing forming elements 60 and clamp element 42 and moving the frames away from the bricks. Support frames 10' may then be clamped to the first laid wall sections in the locations from which the frames 10 were removed, and additional loaded frames 10 positioned on the support frames and assembled in the same manner to form an upper portion of the wall. In the same manner additional loaded frames 10 may be supported on support frames 10 clamped to lower portions of the wall to assemble and cement further wall sections above.

It will thus be seen that the invention constructed and used as described above, provides a means for assembling bricks, or the like in sections, cemented together and which may be used for the erection of building structures without the necessity of manually placing the mortar and laying courses of bricks individually, thus greatly reducing the time and labor consumed in the erection of brick structures.

The invention is disclosed herein in connection with a particular embodiment of the same, which it will be understood is intended by way of illustration only, it being evident that various changes can be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts, within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus clearly shown and described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device for use in the construction of building structures by the use of block-like structural elements, comprising (1) a generally rectangular supporting frame,

(2) a plurality of longitudinally extending, laterally spaced, parallel rows of clamp means, each of said clamp means including (3) a stationary clamp member and (4) a clamp member movably mounted on the frame for movement toward and away from said stationary member,

(5) means having an operative connection with the movable members of each of said rows and said frame to move the movable members into and out of positions in engagement with ones of said elements positioned between said members to clamp said ones of said elements between the members of said row,

(6) means for releasably holding the movable members of certain of said rows against movement away from said positions,

(7) independently operable means for holding the movable members of another of said rows against movement away from said positions,

(8) elongated seal forming members, and

'4 i 9) means movably mounting said seal forming membets on the frame in position to extend between adjacent ones of said elements and for axial rotation therebetween, said seal forming members being shaped for movement into sealing contact with said elements upon axial rotation of the seal forming members in one direction therebetween and out of such contact upon such rotation in the other direction.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, including yieldable means positioned for coaction with each of said movable members and said connection means to yieldingly urge said movable members toward said stationary members.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,496,571 2/ 1960 Wagner. 3,238,589 3/1966 McClarney 52749 3,242,549 3/ 1966 Boeglen 52747 JOHN E. MURTAGH, Primary Examiner 

